Steam-propelled vehicle



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G. J. SAURBREY.

- STBAM'PROPELLBD VEHICLE. No. 488,224. Patented Dec. 20,1892.

WITNESSES:

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(No Model.) 8 Sheath-Sheet; 4. G. J. SAURBREY.

STEAM PROPELLED VEHICLE. I No. 488,224. Patented D60. 20, 1892.

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STEAM PROPELLBDVEHIULE.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet- :6.

G. J. SAURBRBY.

STEAM PROPELLBD VEHICLE. No. 488,224. Patented Dec. 20, 1892.

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G. J. SAURBREY. STEAM PROPELL BD VEHICLE,

No. 488,224. Patented, Dec. 20, 1892.

NITED tAIES PATENT trio.

GEORGE J. SAURBREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

STEAM-PROPELLED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,224, dated December20, 1892.

Application filedMay 21,1891. Serial No. 393.659. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

.Be it known that I, GEORGE .T. SAURBREY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Propelled Vehicles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in steam propelled vehicles and theobject of my invention is to provide a vehicle of this character withmechanism carried by said vehicle, which shall furnish the means ofproducing the motive power, with suitable devices for controlling thesame so that the vehicle may be propelled either forward or backward;all of the operating parts and the controlling devices being so arrangedthat the operator has complete control of all of said parts at alltimes. I attain these objects by the constructions shown in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of my improved vehicle; some of the parts being omitted forperspicuity. Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of the front portion ofthe same taken from the opposite side of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the propelling engines. Fig. lis a partial side elevation of the sameshowing the arrangement of the shifting mechanism for changing thedirection of the engines. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the rear supportingaxle, anda portion of the main frame. Fig. 6 is a partial side elevationof the same. Figs. 7 to 10,inclusive, are detailed views of the shiftingor reversing mechanism and the compensating gear to permit thedriving-wheels to operate independently in changing direction whentraveling either backward or forward. Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, aredetailed views of the guidingmechanism showing the same arranged foreither one or two steering-wheels, as desired.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral views.

In the said drawings, A A represent the main frame, B,the main axle, andB, the axle or spindle for the front carrying-Wheels; the wheels beingrepresented in dotted lines; two wheels being preferably used at therear and connected to the main axle in the manner hereinafter more fullyspecified, so as to receive the motion imparted to said axle from thepropelling engines, as will hereinafter more fully appear. One or moresteering'wheels may be used in front; the description and drawings beingespecially adapted to a three wheeled vehicle with one front orsteering-wheel.

0 represents the boiler and O, the lire-box.

Arranged above the main frame and supported therefrom, preferably bysuitable spring a a, is an auxiliary frame D D, forming the seat D, andthe foot-board D The propelling mechanism consists preferably of twoengines E and E, arranged side by side in the main frame A A,immediately below the foot-board D and supplied with steam from theboiler through a suitable connecting-pipe b, controlled by athrottle-valve b, operated by a pivoted hand-lever b preferably providedwith a thu mb-latch b engaging in a notched segment (9 The engines E andE, may be of any suitable and desirable constructions. I haveillustrated two slide valve engines, each connected directly by asuitable pitman rod N, to the engineshaft E having quartering-cranks 0W, as shown in Fig. 3. The power to drive the carrying-wheels istransmitted from the engineshaft E preferably through the medium ofsuitable sprocket-chains, as illustrated at N, in dotted lines in Fig.1; said'sprocket-chains being adapted to engage with sprocket-wheels F,on the main axle B, from which the motion is imparted to the carrying ordrivingwheels in the manner hereinafter more fully specified.

The boiler O, is of the sectional type and consists preferably of aplain cylindrical shell d, having arranged therein a suitable number oftubes or smoke-fines d, extending through the same.

Located at the bottom of the fire-box G, below the water-tubes 61 Iplace an oil-lamp 0 consisting of a series of burners 6, arranged in theusual manner with wick tubes and wicks whichextend into a commonreservoir 6'.

As before stated, the engines are preferably of the common slide valvetype, means being provided for changing the direction of the en: ginesby changing the throw of the valve. This I preferably accomplish asfollows:- Supported in suitable bearings k 70, on the main frame, arerock-shafts it, each provided with a crank 10 connected by a suitableconnecting-rod it to an eccentric M, on the engine crank-shaft. Each ofthe rock-shafts carries on its inner end an open slotted frame 70adapted to oscillate at each revolution of the crank-shaft. Located ineach of these oscillating frames and adapted to slide therein, is acrank-pin it to which is connected by a suitable connecting-rod 10 avalve-stem 76 of each engine slide valve. Each of the wrists k isconnected by a link W, to an extended arm secured to a rock-shaft 7ejournaled in the main frame A A. To this rock-shaft a lever 76 issecured; the other end of which is projected upwardly in front of thefootboard; said lever being provided with a suitable latch 70, adaptedto engage in a notched segment 75, on the front of the fire-box 0. Threenotches are preferably provided in said segment adapted to hold thelever in three different positions. A movement of said lever produces acorresponding movement of the wrist-pin 75*, in the open slottedoscillating frame 70 When the lever is in the first notch the'wrists areat the bottom of the respective frames and the valves arein position tomove the engines in a forward direction. When located in the secondnotch the wrists are located at the center of oscillation of said framesand the valves therefore will be centrally located over the ports so asto exclude steam from either cylinder. When in the third notch thewrists are at the tops of the respective frames and the slide valves arein position to run the engines in a backward direction; means being thusfurnished by which the engines may be readily reversed or placed on thedead center, as desired. The wrist 70 is formed square at its inner endand adapted to fit snugly within the slot-ted frame 70 so as to move insaid frame. The outer portion is formed to fit the connecting-rod W, andpermit said rod to oscillate thereon. A pivoted connection is alsoformed between the connecting-rod I0 and the valve-stem 70 to permit thesaid connecting-rod to change direction to compensate for theoscillation of the slotted frame and permit the shifting of the wristfrom one end of said frame to the other.

To provide for an independent movement of the carrying anddriving-wheels in changing direction, which will permit one wheel totravel faster than the other when necessary, in turning corners, or whenone wheel has to travel over the arc of a circle greater than the other,and also to provide for reversing the engines and at the same timereversing the direction of the carrying-wheels, and further to providefor disconnecting the engines entirely from said carrying ordriving-wheels, I employ a novel arrangement of compensating andconnecting gear, shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 10, inclusive, and whichis described as follows: The sprocket-wheels F, which are connecteddirectly to the engine-shafts by suitable chains, as before described,are j ournaled loosely on the extended hubs of the respectivecarrying-wheels B which wheels are journaled loosely on the main axle B,and each have secured rigidly thereto on opposite sides of the sprocketwheels F, ratchet-wheels Z and Z, the teeth of which are arranged inopposite directions. Pivoted pawls l 1 attached to opposite sides of thesprocket-wheels F, and extending in opposite directions from the pivotalcenter 1*, are adapted to engage alternately with the respectiveratchet-wheels Z l, and thus propel the carryingwheels in eitherdirection, depending upon which pawl and ratchet are in engagement, andpermit the wheels to turn freely in the opposite direction. Therespective pawls Z 1 are connected together so as to be movedsimultaneously; one pawl being thrown out of engagement as the otherpawl is thrown into engagement; the connection being formed through acurved slotted opening I, through which extends a stud or projection Z",on one of the pawls, which is connected byaresilient or yieldingconnecting rod F, to a lug or ear Z on the other pawl; a stop-pin orstud Z ,being located adjacent to the yielding connection Z and adaptedto contact therewith in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter morefully specified. Projecting laterally on the pawl Z is an operatingfinger Z the outer end of which is provided with two bearingfaces Z Zarranged at different distances from the center of revolution of theratchetwheel, and each having a beveled approach Z Z Located on the axleB, adjacent to the sprocket-wheel F, and adapted to be moved laterallythereon, isabeveled-faced operating wheel or disk F the outer peripheryof which is adapted, as the disk is moved laterally, to come in contactwith the respective beveled approaches Z Z, and thus move the respectivepawls to and from the respective ratchetwheels and hold the same indifferent positions of adjustment as the outer peripheries of said diskrest in contact with the respective bearing-faces Z Z of the projectingfinger.

Means are provided for shifting the diskwheel F for each driving device,through the medium of pivoted shifting levers m, bifurcated at one endand adapted to engage in the curved hub of the disk-wheel F in a wellknown manner, and each connected at its other end by a link connectionm, to a connecting-rod m which extends forwardly and is pivoted to anoperating lever m provided with a suitable thumb-latch and segment m andarranged in front of the footboard in convenient reach of the operator.

In the operation of the device. as the diskwheel F is moved inwardlyagainst the projecting finger, the pawl Z is moved outwardly until thedisk-wheel rests on the bearing-face l, which movement has carried thepawl Z out of engagement with the ratchet Z. The outward movement of thepawl Z by reason of the connecting-link Z between the pawls, causes acorresponding inward movement of the pawl 1 which, when the disk-wheelhas arrived at the first bearing-face, is sufficient to bring therespective pawls at an equal distance from the respective ratchet-wheelsand both out of engagement therewith. A further movement of thedisk-wheel F produces a further outward movement of the pawl Z and acorresponding inward movement of the pawl Z until the disk-wheel hasarrived in contact with the bearing-face Z when the pawl Z is inengagement with the ratchet Z, and the pawl Z is moved to its extremeoutward position, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. Just priorto the completion of the engagement of the pawl Z with the ratchetwheelZ, the connecting-link Z comes in con tact with the stud Z deflectingsaid link slightly, and forming a spring which will permit the pawl P,to yield sufficiently to allow the ratchet Z, to turn in a backwarddirection, but hold said pawl firmlyin contact with said ratchet andcause the ratchet to turn with the sprocket-wheel when turned in theopp0 site direction. A spring Z connectedat one end to a suitable lug orear 1, and at the other to a stud Z", on the sprocket-wheel F, isadapted to return the pawls to their normal positions, as shown in Fig.10, when the disk-wheel F is moved out of engagement with the projectingfinger Z It will be seen that by the constructions thus described, theoperator may, by a movement of the hand-lever m throw both pawls out ofengagement, thus leaving the sprocketwheels free to revolve independentof the carrying-wheels, or cause either set of pawls to engage withtheir corresponding ratchets to cause the wheels to be propelledpositively in eitherdirection, as desired,while they may be free to turnin the opposite direction. The arrangement of the pawls andratchet-wheels permit the wheels to turn independent in turning cornersor in changing direction, no matter which set of ratchets may be inengagement or whether the carrying-wheels be moving in a forward orbackward direction.

A suitable brake-wheel or wheels F is preferably provided on thecarrying-wheels B adapted to be engaged bya brake-shoe n, operatedthrough a suitable connecting-rod n, to a hand-lever 01 in front of thefoot-board along side of the lever m which controls the engaging pawls.This arrangement furnishes the means for readily stopping the vehiclewithout stopping the engines, by simply disconnecting the pawls andapplying the brake.

It will be seen by the constructions thus described that simple meansare furnished for running the vehicle in either a forward or backwarddirection, or permitting the engines to run independent of the vehiclefor pumping or for other purposes.

To provide for readily guiding the vehicle, the front carrying-wheelsare supported in steering forks 5 connected by suitable connections to asteering-lever B preferably pivoted to the main frame in proximity tothe boiler O, which lever extends to within convenient reach of theoperator. In Figs. 11 to 16,inclusive, these connections are shown indetail, both for a single steering-wheel B, and a double steering-wheelB a connecting-rod 0, being adapted to connect the respectivesteering-forks through the medium of suitable cranks and bell crank-arms0 0 when two wheels are employed. The steering-wheel B is preferablybifurcated at its front end and pivoted to projecting cars 0 on anoscillating lever 0 to permit said lever to be moved vertically toaccommodate itself to the position of the operator, and at the same timeto produce the proper movement of the lever 0 to operate thesteering-wheels; said lever being connected to the steering-wheelthrough a suitable link connection 0 as shown.

' It is obvious that the invention herein described admits of variousmodifications in its mechanical details. I do not therefore limit myselfto the exact constructions described and shown, but

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with the carrying- Wheels and a propelling motor, ofan intermediate revolving wheel connected to and revolving with saidmotor, means for changing the direction of revolution of said motor, andratchet connections adapted to alternately engage and disengage toconnect said intermediate wheel to the driving-wheel to cause thedriving-Wheel to move positively with the intermediate wheel in thedirection of rotation, and permit it to turn independent of said wheelinthe other direction, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a motor and driving-wheel, of an intermediatewheel revolving with said motor, ratchet-wheels having teeth extendingin opposite directions connected to said driving-wheel, and oppositelyengaging pawls for the respective ratchets, said pawls being connectedtogether and adapted to be moved simultaneously to and from therespective ratchets, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a reversible motor and a driving-wheel, of anintermediate conmeeting-wheel revolving with said motor, oppositelyarranged ratchets on each side of said intermediate wheel connected withsaid driving-wheel, pivoted pawls on said intermediate Wheel adapted toengage alternately with the respective ratchets, and a spring connectionbetween the respective pawls, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a reversible driving motor and a driving-wheel,of an intermediate connecting-wheel revolving with said motor,oppositely arranged ratchets on each side of said ratchet-wheel, pivotedpawls on opposite sides of said intermediate wheel adapted to engagewith the respective ratchets, an intermediate connection between thepawls to cause them to move simultaneously in different directions withreference to the ratchet-wheels, means for forcing said pawls positivelyin one direction, and a spring for jection having bearing-faces, and asliding returning them to their normal positions Whe released,substantially as specified.

5. The combination with an intermediate connecting-wheel and adriving-wheel, of oppositely arranged ratchets connected to saiddriving-Wheel, pivoted pawls on said intermediate wheel adapted toengage, alternately with the respective ratchets, said pawls beingconnected together so as to move simultaneously in opposite directions,an operating prodisk-wheel to contact with said operating projection tomove said pawls simultaneously out of and into engagement with therespective ratchet-wheels, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May,A. D. 1891.

GEORGE J. SAURBREY. WVitnesses:

' O. O. SHEPHERD,

BARTON GRIFFITH.

